Ernest Lawlars
Ernest Lawlars | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Little Son Joe |
| Born | May 18, 1900 Hughes, Arkansas, United States |
| Died | November 14, 1961 (aged 61) Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist, vocalist, composer |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, drums |
| Years active | 1930s–1950s |
| Labels | Vocalion, Columbia |
Ernest Lawlars (May 18, 1900 – November 14, 1961)[1] was an American blues guitarist, vocalist, and composer, known professionally as Little Son Joe.[2]
Early years and Memphis[edit]
Lawlars (sometimes spelled "Lawlers", "Lawler" or "Lawlar") was born in Hughes, Arkansas, United States. From around 1931 to 1936 he worked around Memphis with Robert Wilkins, who he accompanied on a recording session in 1935.[1] The same session also produced Lawlers's first recorded side, under the name Son Joe, although this was not issued.[3]
Chicago[edit]
By 1939, Lawlars was working with, and married to, Memphis Minnie[4] in Chicago.[2] Their first recording session together, for Vocalion in February 1939, produced six released sides by Lawlers as well as four under Minnie's name.[2] Lawlars recorded in his own right under the name Little Son Joe, but most of his recorded work was as an accompanist to Minnie.[5] In 1942 he had a hit with "Black Rat Swing",[6] billed as “Mr. Memphis Minnie”.[7]
Return to Memphis[edit]
Lawlars mostly retired from music from around 1957 because of ill-health,[1] although after moving to Memphis in 1958 he and Minnie had a regular Saturday night gig at the Red Light in Millington, Tennessee,[8] and he played drums on Minnie's final recording session in 1959.[9]
Death[edit]
Lawlars died in John Gaston Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, in November 1961 from heart disease, and was buried in the New Hope Cemetery in Walls, Mississippi.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Harris, S. (1981): Blues Who's Who. New York, Da Capo Press, pp. 316–7
- ^ a b c Garon & Garon 1992, p. 46
- ^ Dixon, Robert M W. Godrich, John. Rye, Howard W (1997). Blues and Gospel Records 1890–1943. Oxford: OUP, 4th ed., p. 549
- ^ Giles Oakley (1997). The Devil's Music. Da Capo Press. p. 183. ISBN 978-0-306-80743-5.
- ^ Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Guinness, page 2520, (1995) – ISBN 1-56159-176-9
- ^ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 13. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ^ Garon & Garon 1992, p. 48
- ^ Garon & Garon 1992 p. 77
- ^ Garon & Garon 1992 p. 78
Sources[edit]
- Garon, Paul and Beth Garon (1992). Woman With Guitar: Memphis Minnie's Blues. New York: Da Capo Press, ISBN 978-0306804601.
External links[edit]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1900 births
- 1961 deaths
- American blues singers
- American blues guitarists
- American male guitarists
- American male composers
- Singers from Arkansas
- People from St. Francis County, Arkansas
- 20th-century American singers
- 20th-century American composers
- 20th-century American guitarists
- Guitarists from Arkansas
- 20th-century American male musicians